For most visitors to Bangkok, the Royal Palace and the lying Buddha in the Wat Pho is a must-see attraction. After you have visited them in the morning without a guide, offers we for our «Authentic Canal Tour»™ in the afternoon.
Because mostly less is known, that Bangkok has the largest, artificial man-made canal system in the world. These "Canals" called in Thailand "Khlong", which simply translates "Channel" or "Canal" means.
As a visitor to Bangkok, you should also undertake a discovery tour through the historical channels (Klong) in the oldest city district Thonburi !
Our Klong tour starts 14:00 at Wat Arun
Our «Authentic Canal tour»™ through Thonburi starts therefore for you only at 14:00 at the Pier by the Wat Arun and leads in a Western semicircle about 90-100 minutes (and not only 30-45 minutes, as the "blazing" Canal tours in the Longtail boat on the Chao Phraya River up in the broad, crowded and therefore completely uninteresting Klong Noi) through the narrow, historic Canal (Khlong) of the oldest Bangkok urban district of Thonburi.
Thus we do not race too, the motto of all long-tail boats here – «time is money». You will experience at the slow glide along in one of our comfortable boats with upholstered seats (which older people would "writhe with artistic movements in an uncomfortable Longtail boat" ?) that explains the Canals (Klongs), life along our English-speaking guide..
For example, to learn more about their history and origins, and thus an idea to get, why and how the locals their branched Canals for centuries as transport routes ((see historical photos here) and partly also today still use and to learn also the life of "Bangkokians" on Canal. Its Flora and Fauna to experience, see for example tropical fruits in nature or to meet exotic animals for Europeans. Once in a while, a Monitor Lizard on the banks of the Canals basks.
On the way we meet once in a while on boats, deliver the goods on the waterway – as in the past. Now there are mainly tradesman with goods of for daily use. And also "floating food stalls", which of course everyone in the Canal tour would like to catch a photo.
In contrast to the "furious Canal tours" we try always, as close as possible to drive, so you get beautiful pictures.
When driving through the Canal, we meet the wide range of House types. From the Stilt House, often to over the Canal built to the pompous Villa, which also the society differences clearly.
From the water, we see many beautiful temples. Of course, our guide, why they were built earlier very often directly on the Canals explains.
We also stop a historic Temple. It is located within walking distance to a colony of artists. Whose 200-year-old Klonghäuser on stilts, we visit during a short walk
If you have kids, your kids can feed fish now. You will be surprised as there are big fish in the Klongs. Our guide will explain their name.
An important experience for long noses
As well, we encounter on the way various activities of the locals.
Children enjoy a cool dip in the Canal and romp. Or women washing clothes, what is done here is of course still by hand in the Canal. Or older people who meditate on their terrace.
The factor time is for them probably forgotten, because Thailand is not only the "Land of smiles", but also the "Land of the deceleration", here on the basis of their Buddhist religion. You know stress only in Western countries ...
These people here live therefore usually happier, even though there is often little substantive to life available. This is also an experience, we would like to give you our Canal tour!
In part they can in our quiet Canal tour since we just not rase directly - look into the houses and experience the locals in their daily environment.
Wat Arun - the most beautiful temple in Bangkok
Again, the endpoint of our Canal tour is Wat Arun. Now we make but a tour with you. Your English-speaking guide explained its history and architectural elements, and if the levels are not too steep, you can climb the 1st, 2nd or even 3rd platform. From here can shoot, but also details of the porcelain items not only beautiful photos about the river and the diagonally opposite "Royal Palace" and the beautiful to the Prang ongoing caryatids eaves.
Our "Authentic Canal Tour"™ ends here. Take the ferry to the Saphan Taksin Pier and from there with a hotel shuttle boat or the BTS (elevated railway) in your hotel.
From the Saphan Taksin Pier, there is also a shuttle boat to the beautiful Asiatique night market. This is already open so that you can spend the evening there.